Medical Malpractice and Addiction: Is Your Doctor at Fault?

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As a recovering addict, one of the first things you learn is that you must take full responsibility for your actions. You can’t blame anybody for your drug addiction but yourself.

No one stuck a needle in your arm and forced you to get high. Did they?

So how are people suing their doctors for medical malpractice and addiction? Claiming that it is the doctor’s fault that they became an opioid addict?

Continue reading to find out ALL you need to know about medical malpractice and addiction.

Back To The Beginning of Your Addiction

I want you to think back on your drug addiction.

How did it begin?

What was the first opiate that you used?

Did you start using pain pills?

Did you buy them off of someone or were you prescribed to them?

Most heroin or opiate addicts start off by using pain pills.

And then something happens, your dependency deepens. It’s not long before you need more and more to feel the same relief or high. That obviously depends [‘;/”
?{“?,ny;yh7jlko'[on your reasoning behind taking the pills in the first place.

Progression of Opioid Addiction

Opioid addiction progresses quickly. No one wakes up one day and says “Hmmm.. Today I am going to become a heroin addict”.

A person builds up a tolerance rather quickly which I”m sure you know.

Many addicts have a similar story. It begins with an accident and being prescribed pain pills. Soon the pain pills aren’t enough to get rid of the pain. So, you ask your doctor to increase the milligrams or give you a stronger pill.

Then, your doctor cuts you off or you lose your insurance so, you begin buying the pills illegally. Let me tell you, pills on the street can get pretty damn expensive very quickly.

One day your friend suggests you sniff a line of this powder. It is 10 times more potent than the pills and cost 10 times less. That is until you build up a high tolerance to that. Before you know it, you are a full-fledged heroin addict, sick, detoxing, and doing anything to get your fix.

And that is the progression.

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Prescription for Pain

But do all people who have prescriptions to pain pills become opioid addicts? The answer is NO. Of course, not. That’s insane.

There is a difference between being dependent on a medication and being addicted to a medication. You can read a professional explanation HERE. Or just take my explanation and be satisfied.

A person in chronic pain is prescribed pain medication. Such as a cancer patient.

My friend’s mother had cancer and was prescribed oxycontin until her death The point being, someone stole her pills one day and of course, the pharmacy would not refill an entire bottle of 80mg oxycontin. She ended up in withdrawal and her son, a heroin addict tried to explain that she was in withdrawal. She did not understand and would not accept it.

Dependence vs Addiction

The point being this. An addict is someone who can not function whatsoever without the drug. They will steal, lie, cheat, commit crimes, and do whatever it takes to get their fix. (Hmm, such as stealing their mother’s pills.)

A person who is dependent takes their medication as prescribed, still works, has a home, and still has their shit together. Of course, without their medication, they become ill but would never purchase an illegal drug or sell their body or belongings to get more medicine.

Just as my friend’s mother was, a beautiful, smart, sweet, medication dependent woman. She did end up getting a refill somehow and her pills were locked up after that episode.

There is a HUGE difference between the two types of people.

So who is to blame for your addiction?

Is it entirely your fault? Or is it the doctor who originally prescribed you such an addictive drug? A medical professional who is fully aware that there is a high chance of you becoming completely and totally dependent on this type of medication?

The Breakdown of Medical Malpractice and Addiction

When and if you decide to tackle your opiate addiction, you are likely to come into contact with numerous medical professionals. It is up to these individuals to guide you in the right direction and help you to kick bad habits or addictions as safely, quickly, and conveniently as possible.

However, there is always a chance that a doctor may not make the wisest moves or may make bad decisions. It’s important that you are familiar with the concept of medical malpractice (a situation in which a doctor makes a decision that has overall negative consequences on a patient) and how to challenge it should it happen to you.

Bonus: If you want to know more about medical malpractice, this is the go-to book. It has EVERYTHING you need to know.

Addiction as a Result of Medical Malpractice

When the terms “medical malpractice” and “addiction” are used together, particular situations tend to spring to mind. Of course, there is a grimy doctor who is illegally prescribing pain medication to people who want it to get high. In this case, it’s not the client who is suing him. It’s probably the state, government agencies, and that sorta thing. It’s a dirty doctor.

The Real Issue

The majority of legal cases in this area pertain to a person who has become addicted to opioids as a result of a doctor irresponsibly prescribing medications to a patient. If you have experienced an injury or illness that results in high levels of pain, you may find that your doctor prescribes you painkillers. There are plenty of painkillers out there that can become extremely addictive if you do not take them correctly. If a doctor prescribes them responsibly as they should, you will generally be able to take them and complete your course without becoming addicted to them.

Then, you may start to experience extreme problems down the line. Battling an addiction to anything can be extremely frustrating.

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The Necessary Help You Need

But it can be more so when you are only having to go through this process as a result of medical malpractice. If you believe that you have become addicted to any prescribed medications as a result of a bad decision on your doctor’s part. Then it is important that you develop a treatment plan to kick the addiction. Consulting another medical professional could help to clarify your situation and see you placed on a correct course of treatment to eliminate your dependency on the substance.

Then, you are going to want to get a lawyer and take this doctor to court. Seeking legal help can ensure that justice is served and you may even receive compensation.

Medical Malpractice When Tackling Addiction

Another situation involving medical malpractice and addiction is when you are seeking help for your addiction. Even though, opioid addiction is widespread and declared a national emergency. There is still a stigma attached to addiction and while doctors aren’t supposed to discriminate, they do. Or you simply have a doctor who doesn’t really care about your problem. It happens.

So, a doctor makes a poor decision about your course of treatment that has negative consequences or endangers you. This is why you should always feel free to consult multiple doctors before settling on any one course of treatment. Especially, if you have a gut feeling that something isn’t right. This will help you to see whether each agrees with the other and can help to eliminate chances of mistakes being carried out.

While the majority of doctors will have your best intentions in mind. Remember that doctors are human and can make poor decisions and mistakes too. Make sure that you don’t fall victim to any bad decision making!

Bottom Line

Medical malpractice and addiction is a real thing. Some states have already passed laws protecting citizens and medical professionals from this becoming a bigger problem than it already is.

I’m just going to say this. If you are a heroin addict and began your downward spiral with pain pills, don’t think that you can automatically sue a doctor and get a shit ton of money. Trust me, there are people who have tried.

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